Tuesday, November 25, 2014

The DNC Needs A Dean Redux

First Published in DelawareLiberal on November 25, 2014 by ProgressivePopulist

A couple of commentaries appeared in the media this week from two
divergent factions in the party, both in agreement. Governor Terry
McAuliffe and Howard Dean both went public with rather extensive
statements that the DNC needs rebuilding. We must have messaging on our
accomplishments and what we stand for.

McAuliffe spoke quite
critically of the failure of our National Party to address the
challenges of our struggling middle class and the need for major
economic reforms. This from a guy who I always viewed as a brilliant
fund raiser but shallow thinker. He did leave our party in great
financial shape. Maybe I was wrong about the shallowness.

I think
he really understands the failed leadership of our Party here in a time
of our most desperate need for economic reform. He also spoke of our
President's brilliant record on so many fronts which were ignored by the
DNC's non-existent messaging program.

Adding insult to injury,
the clueless but very well insured Democratic leader Chuck Schumer came
this week with absurd commentary that it was a huge mistake for
Congressional Democrats to undertake healthcare reform in Obama's first
term. In a clearly uncoordinated messaging effort of his own without
collaboration with the White House or DNC, he said we should have
focused on the economy and not done the Affordable Care Act. Is our
Federal Government a one trick pony, incapable of multi-tasking?

I
thought all along we were doing both. And I also thought and still
think healthcare, or the cost of it is a major drag on the national and
well as household economies.

Howard Dean was interviewed
extensively this week on his successful 50 state strategy during his
tenure as DNC Chair. He was quite blunt as usual on the strategic
failure of the DNC during this most recent election cycle. And he too
pointed out the complete silence of any messaging strategy on our
accomplishments and solutions for the future of our people.

Debbie
W.S., are you hearing this? DNC members, are you going to secure for
us here in the trenches new leadership ? And I hope an updated,
technology supported redux of the Dean era? Are you going to bring him
in as a consultant to your replacement for Debbie W.S. and fire the
useless consultants who gave us so little in 2014?

Delaware DNC
members Bob Gilligan and Karen Valentine, what exactly are you doing to
get this party up and running again in preparation for 2016? This
includes the local party which is so desperately in need of energy.
What say you? Would love to hear from you on this blog.

About Me

Moved to Wilmington, Delaware in mid-2013. Resided in Houston, Texas for 45 years. A widower, married Julie Jackson in 2007. Retired as a hospital marketing consultant in 2001.Have been a Democratic Party political activist for most of my adult life, organizing and mobilizing for the Party and its candidates. Consider myself a progressive populist. Early career included running communications for 35 campaigns. Have formed and led committees dealing with voter mobilization and precinct organizing, counter voter suppression and strategy.Co-founded the Progressive Populist Caucus of the Texas Democratic Party. Have served on the Texas Democratic Party Platform Committee numerous times. Also an active organizer for the anti-war movement since Vietnam and was active in the civil rights movement.